#Editorial

Good Morning Mr. President: On alleged abortive coup, security 

Dec 27, 2022, 12:02 PM

Mr. President, Gambians who are now nurturing democracy will not support a coup in the country; after 22 years of dictatorship and tyranny; never again!

Having made six arrests with one still at large regarding the alleged 20 December 2022 foiled coup plot, the government should come with regular statements to update the populace. 

At the end of the investigation, the government should release a comprehensive statement for the public and measures that should be taken. 

It should be noted that this is the second time a coup plan against your government failed. In 2017 between July and November, 12 soldiers were arrested on different dates and months on the grounds that they were pro-Jammeh and thus using WhatsApp as a platform for text messages and audios.

They were charged among other issues with treason and were Court Martialled; five were jailed for 9 years, seven acquitted and discharged in November 2019.

Mr. President, listen to the voice and concern of the people regarding security of the country as planned initially. This is because of security that all of us are safe to do our various businesses and activities.

As the commander in chief, it is always good that you are on top of security matters and the safety of the country.

We are expecting you to be always vigilant and also listen to the complaints of the security personnel to see how best to solve issues affecting them.

Visit their camps to motivate them and to have first-hand information as regards their challenges. The government should meet their basic needs.

 

Mr. President, the people have different views about the presence of ECOMIG in the country specially in the Foni territories where people are against them for their own reason.

In the country, there are people who support their presence because the security in the subregion is volatile and the jihadists are expanding their bases in the subregion.

ECOWAS has extended the mandate of ECOMIG till the end of 2023.

Mr. President, the government should analyse the situation and take the most appropriate action to address the situation.

It is advisable for Gambia Armed Forces to amicably work with ECOMIG to avoid security glitches.

The former regime had disturbed the army in terms of lack of basic training and random and erratic promotions as many were promoted to top ranks without both the requisite education and training.

Promotions were made not on merit but family ties, ethnicity and political affiliations.

During ex-president Jammeh’s time, both the army and police had scores of commissioners and generals.

In other countries, by the time you become a general or commandant, you are near retirement since you ‘go through the mill’.

It's time for Gambia to have training schools and colleges for the military and the police to have better security services and give them high motivation.

Mr. President, we share the same view of ex-commander of the army, Samsudeen Sarr in his message on Facebook Friday that: "The security sector reform initiative 2017 should have included a vetting system for both promotions and appointments of officers and other ranks."

Happy New Year 2023 to you, your family, members of your government, readers and advertisers of The Point.

Good day!

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